Review: “A World In Darkness” by Lurking Terror

While officially they may have only been a growing concern for the past three years, old school Death Metal act Lurking Terror have a wealth of history in their collective vaults. The core trio of the five piece have roots that run three decades deep with vocalist Enrique Chavez, drummer Joel Marquez and guitarist Vincent Cervera having all played together in the cult death metal band Sadistic Intent. That is where the blueprint for Lurking Terror can be found, the band taking their name from the opening cut of their 1990 EP “Impending Doom“. Joined by guitarist Noel Bello (ex-Infinitum Obscure) and bassist Lorenzo Kemp (Temblad) as a quintet they have since played shows and festivals in Texas, Mexico and Japan where they’ve shared bills with Sacramentum, Pessimist and Nausea to name but a few with just one demo and one digital single to their name. Until now…

While the unholy trinity from Sadistic Intent are a distinctive group, Bello and Kemp are also a partnership with a lot of history having played together in both Ninth Level and Man Destroys Himself in their former lives. Fuelled by themes of death, darkness and torment the EP gets underway with the pair of tracks that were on the aforementioned demo, the first being “In Darkness“. A blistering fix of old school Death Metal which in many ways pays homage to the Swedish incarnation of the genre and bands like Entombed and Nihilist, the buzzsaw guitars cut through your skull like a chainsaw through a tree trunk. They’re not afraid to go low and slow either with a skull obliterating final third featuring a flamboyant face-melter of a solo before blasting and death growls bring it home. Next up is “End Of Days” which blasts its way out of solitary confinement with a tip of the hat to early Carcass as Chavez demonstrates he’s lost none of his demonic vocal prowess despite his advancing years. Another ripper of a solo with Death Thrash roots hits like a tornado wrapped in a whirlwind of percussive power and the elements are so flawlessly put together that the appeal is as instant as a lottery winning scratch card.

Sinister and menacing from the very start “Venomous” is all down-tuned guitars and smouldering riffs that leave the ear canal warning the cerebral cortex that it’s in for a savage beating moments too late. The sheer aggression of the blunt force trauma is a joy to behold with the guttural vocals sounding like they were recorded in a dark, damp basement dwelling torture chamber hell. Which in all fairness, they probably were. After that blood gargling “Overcome or Obey” gallops in with a real lust for death, flirting with Death ‘n Roll while packing a serious punch. It’s a headbangers delight and a circle pit starter that has a few subtle tempo changes to keep you on your toes. If you’ve been floored by the record to this point “This Is War” is the kicking you receive while you’re on the ground, ensuring you don’t get up. Mesmerising whammy bar action, staccato riff breaks and pulverising percussive battery with a side order of death growls are the order of the day, the sampled gunfire adding to the post traumatic stress syndrome inducing sounds. Why teach old dogs new tricks when their old tricks are as good as this? They’ve got blood stained hands and evil grins! [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. In Darkness
2. End Of Days
3. Venomous
4. Overcome or Obey
5. This Is War

“A World In Darkness” by Lurking Terror is out 15th November 2024